Brief Notes on the Main Events of the Crimean War

Russia invaded Moldavia and Wallachia and conquered them. These provinces were situated near the river Danube in Turkey. England and France sent their fleets in the Black Sea. Russia withdrew from Moldavia and Wallachia.

But England and France wanted to crush the military power of Russia. They decided to destroy the Russian Navy at Sebastopol. In the words of Seaman:

“And once Russia had withdrawn from the Principalities, no further cause for the war except that of teaching the Czar a lesson existed.

Hence the diversion of the war from the Balkans, where it made sense in relation to the Turkish Empire to the Crimean peninsula where it made very little sense at all.”

England and France put the following demands before Russia on July 23, 1853:

(i) Russia should give up the claim over Moldavia and Wallachia for ever.

(ii) She should not increase her influence over the Black Sea.

(iii) River Danube should be used for the ships of all countries.

(iv) Russia should give up the claim to the protection of all Christians living in the Turkish Empire.